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Cell‐Mediated Assembly of Phototherapeutics
Author(s) -
Smith Weston J.,
Oien Nathan P.,
Hughes Robert M.,
Marvin Christina M.,
Rodgers Zachary L.,
Lee Junghyun,
Lawrence David S.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201406216
Subject(s) - biophysics , intracellular , prodrug , chemistry , colchicine , biochemistry , biology , genetics
Light‐activatable drugs offer the promise of controlled release with exquisite temporal and spatial resolution. However, light‐sensitive prodrugs are typically converted to their active forms using short‐wavelength irradiation, which displays poor tissue penetrance. We report herein erythrocyte‐mediated assembly of long‐wavelength‐sensitive phototherapeutics. The activating wavelength of the constructs is readily preassigned by using fluorophores with the desired excitation wavelength λ ex . Drug release from the erythrocyte carrier was confirmed by standard analytical tools and by the expected biological consequences of the liberated drugs in cell culture: methotrexate, binding to intracellular dihydrofolate reductase; colchicine, inhibition of microtubule polymerization; dexamethasone, induced nuclear migration of the glucocorticoid receptor.